Splicing mechanism for circular-knitting machines



Feb. 26, 1924;

v 1,485,150 F. W. RCBINSON SPLICING MECHANISM FOR 011101111111 KNITTINGmcnmns Filed Aug. 22. 1922 Patented Feb. 26, 19.24.

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Rename; Penman-mum.

SPLIGING' MECHANISM FOR CIRCTJ'LAR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed August 22, 1922'.- Serial No. 583,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Reading, county of Berks, State of Pennsyl- Vania, haveinvented a new and useful Splicing Mechanism for Circular-KnittingMachines, of which the following is a specification. 7

My present invention relates particularly 10 to an organization forsplicing in a circular knitting machine. The invention has been shown inconnection with parts of a circular knittii'ig machine of the Bannertype made under Letters Patent of the United States granted to Hemphill#933,4A3, of 1909, it

being of course understood that the invention is not limited in its useto machines of this type.

-With the above in View, my invention consists of a novel constructionand arrangement of splicing mechanism for circular knitting machines.

It further consists in features, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter 2 described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my in-' vention, I have shown theaccompanying drawings a typical embodiment thereof which is at presentpreferred by me, since this embodiment will be found in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can bevariously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described;

Figure 1 represents a side View of the knitting head with my inventionapplied thereto.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view showing more particularly certaincams employed.

Figure 3 represents, in side elevation, a portion of the machine showingmore particularly the knitting wave and certain of the cams in theposition which they assume during the knitting operation.

Figure 4: represents, in front elevation, the parts seen in Figure 2 andin a different relation from that seen in Figure. 3.

Similar numeralsof reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings. 7 In knitting the high splice or double soleof stockings, the splicing. yarn is thrown intowork to be knittedtogether with the main yarn and when thrown into work it is knitted upfor a half revolution of the machine. The yarn finger remains inposi-tion to place the splicing. yarn in the work during the knitting 0fthe high; splice and the double sole, and the needles are so control-ledthat only the proper set or half circle will take the yarn to knit thehigh splice or double sole, the other needles or half circle missing thesplicing yarnso that for only one-half revolution of the machine thesplicing yarn is knit. This is done only onthe short butt needleswhichmake the high splice and sole of the stocking. The needles aredivided in two sets as in the Banner type of machine, one-half circlebeing insert needles and the other half circle being heel and toeneedles, the heel and toe needles having. preferably short butts and theinsert needles having. preferably long butts.

My present invention relates more particularly to the cams employed forcontrolling the needles. stitch cams 1 and 2, respectively, the stitchcam 2 being fixedly mounted and of the usual construction while thestitch cam 1 is pivotally supported, as at 3, in proximity to its lowerend. These" two stitch cams are used in reciprocating knitting for heeland toe work and the stitch camr is in use during round knitting;

l designates the top center' on guard cam which acts to retract theneedles after being advanced to take the yarn. This cam 4; is providedwith slots 5 through which pass fastening devices 6 which engage theblock 7 which carries the cams. The cam l has con nected to it an arm 8which is connected to one end of a bell crank lever 9 pivotallysupported at 10 and to theopposite end of this bell crank lever 9 isconnected a link 11 to which is secured one end of a lever 12 suitablyfulcrumed, said lever being controlled by a cam 13 carried by the shafton which the main pattern drum of the Banner machine is supported in theHemphill These cams include"- patent to which reference has before beenmade. The link 11 is longitudinally adjustable by means of the socket 14with which it has threaded engagement, the socket 14 being connectedwith the lever 12.

The operative cam surface of the cam 4 is of the usual construction. Themain yarn finger is shown at 15 and the splicing yarn finger is shown at16 other yarn fingers being shown at 17. The cam 4 carries a screw 18which is in frictional engagement with the block 7. The yarn'fingers 17and the narrowing pick mechanism 20 operate in the usual well knownmanner.

IVhen the heel and toe is being formed the cam 4 is all the way in andwhen the splice thread is in use, the cam 4 is half way in. It is notnecessary to employ the screw 18, the only function of this screw beingto increase the friction of the cam 4. The stitch cam 1 is pivoted sothat on the re verse movement the needles can pass over such stitch cam,which at such time is in its lower position, and pass under the cam 4.hen the cam 4 is moved rearwardly and the stitch cam 1 is raised, as inFigure 3, the needles are divided, the needles with short butts passingdirectly across the face of the cam 4 while the needles with the longbutts are drawn down by the cam 4 to a lower level. I preferably providean adjustable set screw 21 to limit the downward movement of the movablymounted stitch cam 1 and the flange 22 limits the extent of its upwardmovement, see Figure 3.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful splicingmechanism for circular knitting machines which embodies the features ofadvantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention andthe above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shownand described an embodiment thereof which will give in practicesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that thisembodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing anyof its advantages.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a main yarn finger, asplicing yarn finger, a circle of needles having long and short butts, aset of knitting cams including the two stitch cams, one of which ispivotally supported, and the intermediate guard cam, and means to movesaid guard cam to cause it to be operative or inoperative with theneedles having short butts.

2. In combination in a circular stocking knitting machine, a main yarnfinger, a splicing yarn finger, a circle of needles having long andshort butts,'a set of knitting cams including the two stitch cams and amovably mounted guard cam, one of said stitch cams being movablymounted, and pattern controlled means to effect the inward and outwardmovements of said guard cam.

3. In combination in a circular stocking knitting machine, a main yarnfinger, a splicing yarn finger, a circle of needles having long andshort butts, a set of knitting cams including the two stitch cams and amovably mounted guard cam, one of said stitch cams being movably mountedand retained in raised position by co-operating needle butts, andpattern controlled means to effect the inward and outward movements ofsaid guard cam.

4. In combination in a circular stocking knitting machine, a main yarnfinger, a splicing yarn finger, a circle of needles having long andshort butts, a set of knitting cams including the two stitch cams and amovably mounted guard cam, one of said stitch cams being pivotallysupported in proximity to one of its ends, retained in raised positionby co-operating needle butts and movable to dropped position by theaction of gravity and the pressure of needles contacting with it, andpattern controlled means to effect the inward and outward movements ofsaid guard cam.

FRANK. IV. ROBINSON.

-Witnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MCVAY.

